Mother’s Day is often a bittersweet holiday. Many of us celebrate motherhood, either that of our mothers or of our own. But others of us struggle to reconcile painful estrangements, reminders of our mothers’ deaths, or the reality that we have not welcomed a child into our homes through biological or adoptive motherhood.

Despite the presence of mixed emotions regarding Mother’s Day, and regardless of how, when, or why we celebrate it, the purpose of such a national commemoration is to point us to the beauty and gift of motherhood. Each of us can discover something in herself that calls us to nurture, receive, and generously pass on to others, even if we are not raising children in our home.

Motherhood reminds us that life is cyclic, that God restores all things and makes us new creations. As women, we are all called to participate as co-creators of God’s creation in and through our lives, perhaps by raising children or maybe through a particular ministry or apostolate and even in the ultimate gift of consecrating our entire lives to His work through the religious life.

Here are 10 ways each of us can celebrate motherhood every day:

Visit a Marian shrine.

There are plenty of haunts and hideaways in our own backyards if we simply do a little sleuthing. Chances are you may live close to a Marian shrine. Even if it is not a nationally known, popular location, you can visit any church or convent that has a prominently displayed Marian statue and/or garden outside. Spend some time with Our Lady, thanking her for her yes to God in all circumstances. Meditate on her incredible, unwavering faith. Ask her to infuse you with the same docility, humility, and charity in your own life.

Plant a flowering tree or shrub.

Flowers and plants are outward signs of God’s indelible mark of generativity throughout creation. Choose a tree, flower, or shrub that has some spiritual significance to you before you plant it. There are many species named after Our Lady, which would be perfect in anyone’s backyard. As you plant it, you might consider eventually adding other greenery to create your own prayer garden. Thank God for the gift of new life and ponder how the cycle of life and death relates to where you are in your life right now.

If you are a mother, pray for each of your children. Bring them to the Lord by name. If you are a spiritual mother, contemplate the ways you have given birth through the work or ministry you do that heals and encourages others. Visit this place in your backyard as often as you are inspired to do, always in a spirit of prayer and gratitude.

Spend some time with a widow in your local nursing home.

I often think of the number of lonely people in the world and how I cannot fathom the multitude of those who are spending countless hours, days, months, and years with no one to console them or remind them that they are beloved. Many of those who are forgotten behind nursing home walls are widows and widowers. Maybe their children are grown and have families and jobs of their own. Maybe they have endured decades of creeping separateness from their families due to misunderstandings or unresolved conflicts.

One of the works of mercy is to visit the sick, which includes those who are shut-in, homebound, or otherwise confined to an apartment or nursing home. Contact your local assisted living center or nursing home and explain that you’d like to visit someone who does not often receive visitors. Bring some flowers with you and an open heart. Be willing to stay a while to chat but mainly to listen. Prepare to encounter some awkward moments, but endure them with kindness. Accept pauses in conversation and silence as welcome invitations to silent prayer for this person.

Pray a family rosary.

You may be fortunate to have your spouse and children with you on Mother’s Day, but many are not. If you are divorced or widowed, if you are an empty nester or have struggled with infertility or recurrent miscarriage, Mother’s Day will likely be particularly painful for you each year. Gather with the family you have, which could be your parents or siblings, aunts or cousins, religious sisters or pastor. Suggest an offering of a rosary prayed for all mothers and in honor of the Blessed Mother. It’s a beautiful way to invite healing into the chasm you may be experiencing. 
Even if your heart is full and you are able to spend time with your husband and children all together, family prayer is a spiritually unitive and creative way to share your heart with the Lord and turn to Our Lady with every concern and blessing.

Take a homemade meal to a new mom or neighbor.

My family recently moved to a new city, and I am on the cusp of giving birth to our third daughter. I can personally attest to the gift of a homemade meal when you are the newbie in town. It’s hard enough to acclimate to a new house, neighborhood, and extend yourself to meet new people, but if you are someone who notices a moving truck around the corner, why not drop by with a meal to welcome them?

It’s also a great idea to call your parish office and either sign up for a meal ministry or inquire about any new moms who might be requesting meals after a birth. Never underestimate the power of this gift. It seems so simple, but it is truly a gift of both the heart and hands. Include a special touch with your meal, like a short, handwritten card with your contact information or a prayer card inside.

Send a card to a woman in your life whom you admire and love.

There are innumerable women who have impacted our lives, so why not tell them how they’ve made a difference to us? This could be anyone who has influenced you to become a better person or who has bestowed particular wisdom that changed your life: a teacher, a mentor, a religious sister, a sibling, a friend, your mom or mother-in-law, a neighbor, etc. Your card doesn’t have to be long and drawn out, but take a bit of time to pray before you sit down to write it. 

Make sure it is heartfelt, honest, and truly expresses what she has done in her life (e.g., overcome cancer or raised three children on her own) that has made an impression on you. Believe me, this will be a gift she will cherish always, especially on those tough days when she questions whether or not she has made a difference in anyone’s life.

Spend some time at the gravesite of your mother, sister, or grandmother.

Some of us visit gravesites regularly, while others of us aren’t entirely comfortable with it. Try it at least once, especially if you are mourning the loss of a beloved woman in your life who has passed on to eternity. Take someone with you, such as a spouse, sibling, or friend. Bring flowers with you and spend as long as you are comfortable just talking to your loved one, asking for her intercession, praying for her soul. It can be very healing and comforting to do this. If it’s tough to come up with your own words, find a card or prayer card that you can bring with you to pray aloud and leave on site.

Go through family albums with your kids and husband.

I’m a scrapbooker, so memory keeping is very important to me. It’s not just a hobby, as many would assume, but it is a permanent way to preserve life’s treasured moments that you may otherwise forget. Maybe you are not an all-out scrapbooker who includes memorabilia and ephemera along with photos and notecards but pull out those old picture albums and sit on the couch one Sunday afternoon to go through them.

Tell stories from your childhood. Introduce great-grandma to your kids and explain a funny or touching moment you recall that will make her personality shine. You’ll be amazed at how much children love this activity! They will likely ask numerous questions that will open up more opportunities for you to share your family legacy with them.

Visit your local Adoration chapel.

May is the month of Mary, but June is the month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Many theologians and saints believe that Jesus and Mary share what is known as “the united heart,” so to honor one is to honor the other in a very personal way. When you visit your Adoration chapel, bring your heartaches and heartbreaks to the Lord regarding motherhood. If you are estranged from your mom or if your kids are estranged from you, ask God how He might desire for you to initiate reconciliation. Bring the joys and sorrows related to motherhood to Him in heartfelt prayer, and don’t be afraid to cry. Tears often bring about deep healing.

Start or renew your Marian consecration. 

Most Catholics have heard of Marian consecration. Whether or not you are familiar with this practice, any time is an opportune time to begin yours. Pick up either 33 Days to Morning Glory by Fr. Michael Gaitley or True Devotion to Mary by St. Louis de Montfort online or at your local bookstore to get started. Consecrating your life to Our Lady will draw you into a deeper understanding of the gift of maternity and receptivity in your own life and how you are called to emulate these gifts by sharing the spiritual charisms God has given you. You will also grow in compassion for women experiencing various walks of life, and above all else, Our Lady will become a strong and constant companion to you in your daily journey.